Paul McGann

Shows

Episodes

  1. Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 1: The Butcher of Bangui

    DEC 17

    Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 1: The Butcher of Bangui

    The former soldier in the French army who seized power in his African homeland. The leader of the Central African Republic who proclaimed himself emperor. The emperor who ruled as an avaricious dictator. Jean-Bédel Bokassa’s time in power in the CAR began with promises of equality and justice. Hailed as a beacon of strength, he would go on to preside over a regime of eccentricity, excess and sadistic cruelty. But decades before the surreal coronation, the 17 wives and the vast collection of luxurious possessions, our story begins in a much humbler setting. In a forested village near the CAR’s southern border, rebellion is in the air… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 1 of 3. Written by John Bartlett | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Fact check by Heléna Lewis | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by George Tapp | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann. You can listen to the final two episodes of the Bokassa story straight away, without waiting and without ads, by joining Noiser+. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 1m
  2. Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 2: The Power Grab, the Châteaux and the Missing Daughter

    1D AGO

    Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 2: The Power Grab, the Châteaux and the Missing Daughter

    A new year brings new beginnings in the Central African Republic. President Bokassa attempts to modernise. But at the same time, the mass incarcerations and torture ramp up and corruption takes hold. And then things get really strange… An imposter infiltrates Bokassa’s homelife. A bizarre public competition is launched to marry off the president’s daughters. And the leader takes a significant trip to Colonel Gaddafi’s Libya… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 2 of 3. Written by John Bartlett | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Fact check by Heléna Lewis | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Jacob Booth | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann. You can listen to the final episode of the Bokassa story straight away, without waiting and without ads, by joining Noiser+. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    58 min
  3. Cleopatra

    6D AGO

    Cleopatra

    The last of the Ptolemaic Pharoahs, the enduring legend of Cleopatra has captivated imaginations for centuries. Though some write her off as a manipulative femme fatale, her competence as a ruler restored her country to a world superpower. But what were the early experiences that shaped her? How did she form both political and personal alliances with two great Roman generals? And what is the true story of her dramatic death?   This is a Short History of Cleopatra. Written by Lindsay Galvin. With thanks to Joyce Tyldesley, archaeologist and author of Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
  4. Stonehenge

    DEC 12

    Stonehenge

    Older than the pyramids and just as cryptic, the prehistoric British site of Stonehenge has dominated its landscape for thousands of years. But what is Stonehenge? A celestial clock? An ancient computer to predict eclipses? Was it a temple, a cemetery, or a site of execution? And who were the people who lived and died to create this Stone Age masterpiece? This is a Short History of Stonehenge. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Julian Richards, archaeologist, broadcaster and author of the official Stonehenge guidebook. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    58 min
  5. 1. The Biggest Ship in the World

    APR 7

    1. The Biggest Ship in the World

    At a dinner party in London’s Belgrave Square, two men discuss plans for a luxury ocean liner like nothing ever seen. The finest designers and craftsmen begin work in Belfast. A soon to be retired Captain Smith steps on board to take command. But a pair of binoculars goes missing in the process. Liverpool lad Jimmy McGann wangles a job in Titanic’s engine room. A passenger called Esther Hart has a terrifying premonition. And the gargantuan ship claims her first victim - before even touching water… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Josyann Abisaab, Stephanie Barczewski, Jerome Chertkoff, Julian Fellowes, Veronica Hinke, Tim Maltin, Stephen McGann, Susie Millar, Claes-Göran Wetterholm. Special thanks to Southampton Archives, Culture and Tourism for the use of the Eva Hart archive. Visit SeaCity Museum for an interactive experience of the Titanic story (seacitymuseum.co.uk) Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound design & audio editing by Tom Pink | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer, Liam Cameron | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd | Executive Producer: Pascal Hughes Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early, as well as ad-free listening, by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  6. The Knights Templar

    NOV 14

    The Knights Templar

    For almost two hundred years, the Knights Templar were one of the most fearsome military forces in the world. Despite their strict vows of individual poverty, the Order was a global financial powerhouse, with valuable holdings across Europe and the Middle East. Even today, the myth of the Templars endures. But who were the men who devoted themselves to the mysterious order? And how did such a powerful international organisation find itself suddenly brought down? A ⁠Noiser⁠ podcast production, written by Duncan Barrett. With thanks to Thierry Do Espirito, author of The Knights Templar for Dummies, and to Michel Carnet, voice of the French nobleman.  For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  7. The Samurai

    OCT 23

    The Samurai

    After a bloody battle on September 22nd, 1877, Saigo Takamori and his loyal warriors pause on a hillside overlooking Kagoshima. They’ll never surrender, but they’re wounded, exhausted, and massively outnumbered, and Saigo already knows how this will end. Because his noble Samurai army aren’t just fighting the Emperor’s gun-wielding forces. They’re fighting progress itself. And that’s a battle they cannot win. But were the Samurai really a class of elite martial artists, driven by unbreakable codes of chivalry and loyalty? Or, behind the propaganda, just a self-important militia of romanticised thugs? A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. With thanks to Jonathan Clements, historian, and author of A Brief History of the Samurai. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    54 min
  8. The Pyramids

    OCT 31

    The Pyramids

    Sakkara, Egypt, 2,630BC. A man stands atop a structure of dizzying height as the final block grinds into place. For Imhotep, it is the culmination of his life’s work: a mountain made by man. He checks the joint while his workers wait in silence. Then, he gives a barely perceptible nod. It is done. Imhotep’s pyramid is the first, but more will come. Bigger pyramids, more beautiful pyramids, tombs filled with treasure, chambers inscribed with complex, sacred writings. But what motivated these ancient people to toil for decades over their vast monuments? What purpose did the structures serve? And what mysteries might still remain inside? A ⁠Noiser⁠ production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology at the American University of Cairo. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠Noiser+⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    55 min
  9. Marco Polo

    DEC 5

    Marco Polo

    In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo spent decades travelling the world. His adventures took him from his home in Venice as far east as the Yellow Sea, where he was a valued courtier of the legendary Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. Later, in prison, he wrote the world’s first travel book. But how did his name become synonymous with adventure? What compelled him to stay away for so long? And why is his story still remembered almost eight centuries later? This is a Short History of Marco Polo. Written by Chris McDonald. With thanks to Denis Belliveau: author and Emmy-nominated filmmaker of In The Footsteps of Marco Polo. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1 hr
  10. 2. Bad Luck Comes in Threes

    APR 8

    2. Bad Luck Comes in Threes

    Titanic is cleared for departure, but no one tells the inspector that a fire is raging in one of the coal bunkers. Extra lifeboats are proposed then rejected, as the first and only lifeboat drill takes place. White Star boss J. Bruce Ismay makes himself at home in his deluxe suite, as Titanic’s first-class facilities are unveiled in all their glory. And on the way out of Southampton Harbour there’s a nail-biting near miss. One that almost scuppers the maiden voyage before it’s begun… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Stephanie Barczewski, Julian Fellowes, Clifford Ismay, Tim Maltin, Susie Millar. Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Anisha Deva, Liam Cameron | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early, as well as ad-free listening, by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    43 min
  11. Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

    NOV 21

    Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

    Covering thousands of miles in the Andes, the Inca Trail was the backbone of the ancient empire, connecting the millions of people who lived under its rule. The jewel in its crown, Machu Picchu, was recently named one of the seven wonders of the modern world. But who were the Incas? What was the purpose of their complex road system? And why did they build a stone citadel on a mountain ridge, only to abandon it a century later?  A ⁠Noiser⁠ podcast production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Javier Puente, associate professor of Latin American studies at Smith College in Massachusetts. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    56 min
  12. The Spartans

    NOV 28

    The Spartans

    In 480BC, the Spartans secured their place in history when 300 of their soldiers fought to the death against the mighty Persian army at Thermopylae. Their reputation for brutal decisiveness and simple living have been admired for thousands of years. But what about the darker side of Spartan ideology, a society that culled weak babies, forced children to fight, and enslaved its neighbours? Was Sparta really a utopia? Or was Aristotle right when he said that Spartans simply made men into machines? This is a Short History of the Spartans. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Dr Andrew Bayliss, Associate Professor of Greek History at the University of Birmingham, UK, and author of The Spartans: A Very Short Introduction. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠⁠⁠Noiser+⁠⁠⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠⁠⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    50 min
  13. 4. Iceberg Dead Ahead

    APR 11

    4. Iceberg Dead Ahead

    A retirement party is held in Captain Smith’s honour. But as ice warnings come in over the radio, he must decide what to do about them. The richest man on board and his mistress do their best to dodge scandal. Titanic’s engines are put through their paces, as passengers place bets on how fast the ship can go. And at 11.39pm, on Sunday April 14th, something large is spotted, dead ahead… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Stephanie Barczewski, Jerome Chertkoff, Julian Fellowes, Veronica Hinke, Clifford Ismay, Tim Maltin, Stephen McGann, Susie Millar. Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay and Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Tom Pink | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early, as well as ad-free listening, by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    57 min
  14. 3. Into the Atlantic…

    APR 10

    3. Into the Atlantic…

    Titanic stops off in France and Ireland to pick up more passengers, and wine. Economic migrants from Sweden and the Middle East come on board, setting out for a new life in America. Dinner is served, as Titanic’s very own ‘ice man’ helps out with cocktails and desserts. And the passengers settle down to their first night at sea. But one woman - wracked with dread - has no intention of sleeping… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Josyann Abisaab, Stephanie Barczewski, Ray Hanania, Veronica Hinke, Clifford Ismay, Tim Maltin, Claes-Göran Wetterholm. Special thanks to Southampton Archives, Culture and Tourism for the use of the Eva Hart archive. Visit SeaCity Museum for an interactive experience of the Titanic story (seacitymuseum.co.uk) Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early, as well as ad-free listening, by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    43 min
  15. Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 3: A Coronation for the Ages

    DEC 31 • SUBSCRIBER EARLY ACCESS

    Jean-Bédel Bokassa Part 3: A Coronation for the Ages

    This episode will be available for free on December 31st 2025. For instant access, ad-free listening and bonus material, join Noiser+. The new emperor of the Central African Republic is introduced to the world in a totally surreal manner - with white horses from Belgium, finery from France and songs from a Broadway musical. The CAR’s finances continue to tumble. A controversial policy about school uniforms leads to one of the most tragic episodes in the country’s history. And as the emperor loses control, old friends become foes, old foes return from the dead, and Bokassa’s day of judgement is at hand… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Louisa Lombard, Richard Moncrieff, Gino Vlavonou. This is Part 3 of 3. Written by John Bartlett | Produced by Ed Baranski and Edward White | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Fact check by Heléna Lewis | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by George Tapp | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer, Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann.

    58 min
  16. 5. The Moment of Impact

    APR 14

    5. The Moment of Impact

    First Officer Murdoch takes evasive action, attempting to swerve around the iceberg. As Titanic sustains multiple hull breaches, water starts flooding in. As chaos engulfs the engine room, Jimmy McGann and his pals do their best to shut down the engines. And the two wireless operators broadcast their first ever SOS… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Stephanie Barczewski, Julian Fellowes, Clifford Ismay, Tim Maltin, Stephen McGann, Susie Millar. Special thanks to Southampton Archives, Culture and Tourism for the use of the Eva Hart archive. Visit SeaCity Museum for an interactive experience of the Titanic story (seacitymuseum.co.uk) Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay and Liam Cameron | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early, as well as ad-free listening, by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    36 min
  17. The Pirate Queen

    NOV 7

    The Pirate Queen

    It’s November 28th, 1809. The Imperial fleet in Tung Chung Bay is aflame. But the crew of Zheng I Sao’s ship watch on and cheer. This is the greatest victory of the Pirate Queen, scourge of the South China Sea. At its peak, her fleet was more than twice the size of the Spanish Armada. But who was Zheng I Sao? How did she become one of the most successful pirates of all time? And why did she go under the radar for so long? A Noiser podcast production, written by Joel Duddell. With thanks to Dian Murray, historian, and author of Pirates of the South China Coast. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join ⁠Noiser+⁠. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to ⁠noiser.com/subscriptions⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    46 min
  18. Introducing: Charles Dickens Ghost Stories - A Christmas Carol

    DEC 8 · BONUS

    Introducing: Charles Dickens Ghost Stories - A Christmas Carol

    This is a preview of a brand-new audiobook from the Noiser Podcast Network. Join Sir David Suchet as he reads a selection of Charles Dickens’s most chilling short works, brought to life with sound design and original music. We’ll encounter dark premonitions of disaster experienced by a lonely railway signalman… A Victorian murder trial cast into chaos when the dead man’s ghost interrupts proceedings… And a sinister haunted hotel, where twelve identical spirits stalk the corridors… But first, a very special festive gift: Dickens’s most beloved ghost story of all, A Christmas Carol. You can listen to Part 2 of A Christmas Carol straight after this. Just search for Charles Dickens Ghost Stories in your podcast app or listen at www.noiser.com. Real Dictators will return on December 17th with the story of Jean-Bédel Bokassa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    49 min
  19. 7. Women and Children First

    MAY 12

    7. Women and Children First

    The chaos continues, as more lifeboats leave the ship half empty. Fights break out on deck over the rapidly dwindling number of spaces. Titanic’s band strike up a tune, trying to keep everyone calm. A senior officer pulls a gun on a teenager. And the iceberg claims its first victim… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Josyann Abisaab, Stephanie Barczewski, Jerome Chertkoff, James Delgado, Julian Fellowes, Tim Maltin, Susie Millar, Claes-Göran Wetterholm.Special thanks to Southampton Archives, Culture and Tourism for the use of the Eva Hart archive. Visit SeaCity Museum for an interactive experience of the Titanic story (seacitymuseum.co.uk) Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham and George Tapp | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay and Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early and ad-free by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    47 min
  20. 8. Every Man for Himself

    MAY 19

    8. Every Man for Himself

    With Titanic about to plunge beneath the waves, those left behind must decide what to do with the few precious minutes remaining. Two men are shot for disobeying orders. And Bruce Ismay makes one of the most controversial decisions in the entire Titanic story… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Josyann Abisaab, Stephanie Barczewski, Jerome Chertkoff, James Delgado, Julian Fellowes, Clifford Ismay, Tim Maltin, Stephen McGann, Susie Millar, Claes-Göran Wetterholm. Special thanks to Southampton Archives, Culture and Tourism for the use of the Eva Hart archive. Visit SeaCity Museum for an interactive experience of the Titanic story (seacitymuseum.co.uk) Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Miriam Baines and Duncan Barrett | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay and Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines and Dorry Macaulay | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann | Nautical consultant: Aaron Todd. Get every episode of Titanic: Ship of Dreams two weeks early and ad-free by joining Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    52 min
Paul McGann on Apple